Spiritual Curse Removal Scams on Instagram
Self-proclaimed psychics and spiritual healers on Instagram use dramatic reels and DMs to convince followers they are cursed, then charge escalating fees for 'removal' rituals that never end.
Part of: Spiritual Curse Removal Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Instagram's visual, personality-driven format is ideally suited to spiritual healer marketing, where dramatic reels, candle imagery, and testimonial-style captions build an aura of mystical authority. Scammers use this format to reach a wide audience, then move promising leads into direct messages where the real, personalized manipulation and escalating fee requests begin.
How this scam works on Instagram
A spiritual healer or psychic account posts reels claiming to sense 'dark energy,' curses, or blocked luck affecting followers, inviting people to message for a free reading. Once in direct messages, the account tells the target they are specifically affected by a curse, often invoking a vague but ominous cause such as jealousy from someone close to them, and offers a paid ritual, candle set, or 'energy cleansing package' to remove it, typically priced modestly at first to secure an initial payment.
After the first payment, the healer reports that the curse is 'stronger than expected' or that removing it has revealed a second, deeper curse requiring additional and increasingly expensive rituals, sometimes escalating to thousands of dollars over weeks of exchanged messages. The follower, invested both emotionally and financially, often continues paying to see the process through, while the account simply continues inventing further complications for as long as payments keep coming.
Common red flags
- An account offering a 'free reading' that quickly turns into a claim that you are specifically cursed
- Escalating fees for additional rituals framed as necessary after the first payment is made
- Vague, generic claims about a curse's cause that could apply to almost anyone
- Pressure to keep the process secret from friends or family who might question it
- Payment requested via untraceable methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or direct money transfer apps
- Testimonials or reels that appear to use stock imagery or repeated footage across many follower accounts
How to protect yourself
- Be skeptical of any account claiming to detect a curse or negative energy specifically affecting you through a DM reading
- Never send escalating payments for spiritual services, especially once a 'second curse' or complication is introduced
- Talk to a trusted friend or family member before paying for any spiritual or psychic service found through social media
- Search the account name plus 'scam' or 'complaints' before engaging further
- Set a firm limit and walk away if a healer claims more money is needed after you have already paid
- Report and block accounts using pressure tactics or vague, ominous claims to solicit repeated payments
How to report it
- Report the account to Instagram using the in-app 'Report' feature
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US) or Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk (UK)
- Report the transaction to your bank or payment app provider if payment was made
- Warn others by leaving an honest review or comment where safe to do so, to help other potential targets recognize the pattern
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for a curse removal to require multiple payments?
Escalating requests for additional payments after the first ritual is a strong sign of a scam designed to keep extracting money for as long as the target keeps paying, rather than a genuine spiritual practice.
Can I get my money back after paying an Instagram spiritual healer?
Recovery is difficult, especially if payment was made by gift card or cryptocurrency, but reporting to your payment provider quickly and reporting the account to Instagram may help limit further harm to others.